AIBU - to be so bothered by an annoying work colleague who is also part of an extended friendship group and tips for handling my feelings about her.
She regularly brags about how exciting her life is, talks over people, doesn’t listen to what other people say and always or often turns the conversation back to herself (whatever the subject) and she has always done or talking about doing something bigger and better, more individual, special, fashionable etc.
She is always justifying whatever she is doing or thinking of doing and how her choices are the best or better option be it choice of Schools, what she did for her birthday, presents for children, bringing up children, diet, lifestyle, holiday destination etc etc. In the process she often also puts down whatever we are doing or have done.
She also talks incessantly and aggressively about where she has been and where she is going and how X Y and Z restaurants, pubs, band, holiday destination etc etc is/are on her ‘hit list’. I find the term ‘hit list’ annoying when she says it. I can’t understand why she doesn’t just say yes I would like to go to X or I read an article on Y and have fancied going ever since.
I just find her so annoyingly competitive that it ruins what should be a nice relaxed fun get together. Whenever, I have to be in her company once every couple of months I feel quite down during the meet up and afterwards.